Compare towns
Chaplin vs Ellington vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Chaplin | Ellington | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070 |
16,455Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Ellington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
— |
| Ellington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
31 minLowest 18% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ellington School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Ellington High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.